A key coastal highway connecting Tijuana to Rosarito Beach closed to traffic on Wednesday after engineers discovered structural damage to a bridge near Playas de Tijuana. The closure of the Tijuana-Ensenada scenic toll road, known locally as the carretera escénica, forced tens of thousands of drivers onto the already congested free road, creating gridlock across the western corridor of Tijuana.
Bridge Damage Found on Tijuana-Ensenada Scenic Toll Road
CAPUFE, the federal agency that operates Mexico’s toll highways, ordered the closure after a routine inspection revealed cracking and settlement in the support structure of a bridge spanning a canyon between kilometer markers 5 and 8. The affected stretch sits between the Playas de Tijuana toll plaza and the San Antonio del Mar exit. Workers began emergency stabilization on Wednesday morning, with CAPUFE estimating at least 72 hours for assessment before repair timelines could be confirmed.
The scenic toll road carries an estimated 30,000 vehicles daily between Tijuana and Rosarito. Built in the 1960s, the highway runs along coastal bluffs above the Pacific Ocean and includes several bridges crossing the deep canyons that cut through the terrain. Seismic activity and winter rains have tested the road’s infrastructure repeatedly over the decades. A similar closure occurred in January 2024, when heavy rainfall caused a partial shoulder collapse near Real del Mar, shutting the highway for five days.
The toll road’s bridges have been a recurring concern. In 2018, CAPUFE invested approximately 180 million pesos (then about $9.5 million USD) in structural reinforcements along three bridges on the scenic route. Engineers at the time warned that several structures dated to the original construction and would need full replacement within 10 to 15 years. That timeline now appears optimistic, given this week’s emergency closure.
Free Road Gridlock Stretched From Playas to Rosarito Wednesday
With the toll road shut, drivers had one alternative: the free road, a two-lane highway that winds through colonias east of the coast. By 7 a.m. Wednesday, commute times from Rosarito to Tijuana’s Zona Río district ballooned from the usual 35 minutes to over two hours. Traffic backed up through San Antonio del Mar, Primo Tapia, and the commercial stretch of Boulevard Benito Juárez in Rosarito.
Municipal police from both Tijuana and Playas de Rosarito deployed officers at key intersections along the free road. Rosarito’s transit director confirmed that temporary traffic signals were activated at three intersections near Popotla to ease bottlenecks. Still, social media posts from commuters showed bumper-to-bumper conditions stretching several kilometers by mid-morning.
The free road was not designed to absorb the toll road’s full capacity. It passes through residential neighborhoods with speed bumps, school zones, and commercial driveways. Locals who live along the route reported difficulty simply pulling out of their streets. Bus service between Rosarito and Tijuana, operated primarily by the ABC line, reported delays of 90 minutes or more on Wednesday afternoon runs.
Rosarito Hotels and Restaurants Report Midweek Cancellations
Rosarito’s tourism sector felt the impact within hours. The Rosarito Beach Hotel and several properties along Boulevard Benito Juárez reported phone calls from guests asking about access. At least two boutique hotels near the Festival Plaza confirmed midweek reservation cancellations tied to the closure. Restaurant owners along the tourist strip said Wednesday lunch traffic dropped noticeably compared to a typical summer weekday.
Rosarito draws an estimated 400,000 visitors monthly during peak summer season, with a large share driving south from Tijuana or crossing the border from San Diego. The scenic toll road is the primary route for most of those visitors. The free road alternative adds significant time and passes through areas unfamiliar to many first-time visitors.
Real estate agents operating in coastal developments south of Playas de Tijuana, including La Jolla del Mar and Castillos del Mar, also noted that prospective buyers from the U.S. postponed property tours scheduled for the week. Access to those gated communities depends almost entirely on the toll road.
CAPUFE stated that engineers would provide an updated timeline by Friday. If structural repairs require more than surface-level intervention, the closure could extend into the following week. Travelers heading to Rosarito or Ensenada should budget extra time on the free road and avoid peak commute hours between 7 and 9 a.m. and 5 and 7 p.m. Updates on the closure were reported by El Sol de Tijuana.